the choice between wet and dry

So, after being trapped at work on Friday night because of the floods, I managed to find a route [where the flooded parts were shallow enough still to drive through] home on Saturday morning. If you haven't already heard how bad it was, parts of the motorways M5, M50 and M4 were under water. Motorways! I thought I was home safe and dry, and indeed dry I will remain, for Severn Trent is now running out of water to supply Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, because their plant at Mythe is now under flood water. I've just been out to shop for food. There is no still mineral water anywhere to be found in town. With the water supply due to be switched off this evening, people are panic buying everywhere. No doubt they are filling their baths as well, which is exactly what the water company advised people not to do. But when do people ever listen? Still, I guess we got off lucky compared with other places where the floods are so much worse... some towns are virtually cut off with water levels due to rise higher still today. It is not a pretty picture. Local councils are doing whatever they can, but surely there is more the government can do to help?